Sounds like the mixed martial arts (MMA) media is doing all the heavy lifting for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matchmaker Joe Silva.
Not long after the post-fight press conference for UFC Fight Night 46: "McGregor vs. Brandao" had wrapped from Dublin, Ireland (watch it here), fight fans were already buzzing about potential fights featuring Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier and Ian McCall vs. John Lineker.
A pair of names now added to that fantasy fight list are Gunnar Nelson and Rory MacDonald, a potential welterweight showdown that UFC President Dana White is not necessarily opposed to, depending on how his conversations go with all relative parties.
From the UFC Dublin presser:
"Let me talk to the guys and see what they think. What I don't like is you see these guys who are talented, super-talented but don't have the big-fight experience yet, taking these big jumps up. But we'll see what happens. Let me talk to his people, and talk to him, and really see what we want to do here."
It would be a considerable jump up for "Gunni."
That's because MacDonald (17-2) dwarfs the Icelander in terms of experience. Not necessarily in volume, but in quality of opponents. "Ares" has faced the likes of Demian Maia, Robbie Lawler, and Carlos Condit, all former title contenders, as well as an ex-champion in BJ Penn.
Nelson (13-0-1) has beaten Zak Cummings, Omari Akhmedov, Jorge Santiago, and DaMarques Johnson.
Still, if you look at skill sets (and age), they match up very well. But the Canadian -- ranked No. 2 in the world at 170 pounds -- has nothing to gain from a fight against "Gunni" and likely has his sights set on bigger and better things.
I hear Hector Lombard needs a fight...